Abstract
Optimisation of the physical properties of rice husk ash (RHA) in ceramic materials was carried out using Response Surface Methodology. The independent variables, namely the firing temperature and residue content, were statistically combined in a Central Composite Design with the effects on water absorption, linear shrinkage, bulk density, apparent porosity and apparent specific gravity determined. Physical and microstructural analyses were carried out to obtain information on the processes that occurred within the ceramic materials. The results obtained were analysed to determine the optimum physical properties of the ceramic materials within the range investigated. The residue content had a significant influence (at 95% confidence level) on the bulk density, water absorption, apparent porosity and apparent specific gravity but not on the linear shrinkage. The firing temperature had a more significant effect on the linear shrinkage than on the residue content, so that when elevated it contributed to an increase in linear shrinkage. The optimum residue content and firing temperature to enhance physical properties within the range investigated were 5.85% RHA and 1029.64°celsius, respectively. These optimal conditions are expected to produce a ceramic material with a bulk density, linear shrinkage, apparent porosity, water absorption and apparent specific gravity of 1.64 g/cm3, 0.29%, 0.29 g/cm3, 18.26% and 2.11, respectively with a composite desirability of 100%.
Highlights
Global concerns remain with regard to how best to manage the ballooning quantity of waste materials generated on an annual basis
The volume of open pores was determined by the apparent porosity (AP), while the apparent specific gravity (AP-SG) evaluated how impervious the ceramic is to water
By analysing the morphology and elemental composition of the various structures, information on the processes that occurred within the ceramic body when subjected to independent variables and on the nature of the minerals was obtained
Summary
Global concerns remain with regard to how best to manage the ballooning quantity of waste materials generated on an annual basis. The introduction of RHA as a substitute for quartz in triaxial ceramic bodies has been found to reduce the thermal expansion and maturing temperature as well as increase the glassy phase while marginally improving their strength This reduction in the maturing temperature will lead to cost savings in terms of energy consumption, lowering overall production costs [9]. He first is to create a mathematical model that describes the physical properties (dependent variables) as a function of the firing temperature (FT) and the residue content (RC, in unit %RHA), the independent variables This modelling is based on the central composite design of experiments and regression analysis, an efficient statistical technique, to determine the regression coefficients that ensure the best fit of the predictive polynomial. The second objective was to determine the optimum conditions (FT, RC) that improve its physical properties
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